1 The Northeast Megaregion Robert Yaro President, Regional Plan Association Megaregions + MetroProsperity Sustainable Economics for the Texas Triangle Megaregion September 24, 2009 Houston, TX

2 Boston New York Philadelphia Baltimore Washington The Northeast Megaregion 49 million inhabitants 17% of U.S. population on 2% of the land area 20% of U.S. GDP Will add 19 million additional people by 2050

3 Urbanized Areas Source: RPA GIS Model, Woods & Poole County Population projections 25.2%39,128, %25,487, %14,657, % of Total AcresYear Change in Urbanized Land

4 Urbanized Areas Source: RPA GIS Model, Woods & Poole County Population projections 25.2%39,128, %25,487, %14,657, % of Total AcresYear Change in Urbanized Land

5 Urbanized Areas Source: RPA GIS Model, Woods & Poole County Population projections 25.2%39,128, %25,487, %14,657, % of Total AcresYear Change in Urbanized Land

Exurban and Suburban land types Conversion of farmland and forests Fastest Projected Growing Areas

7 Large Landscapes and Estuaries At Stake… Source: RPA, adapted from the Appalachian Mountain Club

8 Congested Roads, Rails, and Sky Image: University of Pennsylvania

9 Commutes are Getting Longer

10 Linked Economies

11 Airports are reaching Gridlock 20 percent of flights in the NY Metro region are 350 miles or less By 2010 airfields at Newark and JFK will approach capacity Roundtrip Flights Daily DC – NY: 86 NY – Bos: 76 Bos – DC: 42

12 How do we build on the Northeast’s strategic advantages?

13 Business Alliance for Northeast Mobility Coalition of chambers of commerce, civic organizations Focus on Amtrak authorization and appropriations Advocacy for NE interests in surface transportation bill Union Station Press Conference Oct 2008 Northeast Summit Mar 2007 Reception in U.S. Capitol Apr 2008

14 Density Peaks: Hubs of Face-to-face Communication

15 Increase Capacity for Economic Growth Provide alternatives and redundancy to congested air travel, roads Increase frequency, speed, reliability, affordability of intercity rail Increase capacity of regional rail services

16 Meet Targets for Greenhouse Gas Reductions On a per passenger basis, Amtrak is: –18% more energy efficient than airlines –17% more efficient than autos (Source: Oak Ridge Nat’l Lab. Transportation Energy Data Book) Air travel has greater GHG impact than ground emitters. –(CO 2, H 2 O, NO x in stratosphere.)

17 Expand rail service to underperforming cities Expand job markets and access to lower-cost housing Focus investments around station areas - TOD Connect Hot and Cold Growth Centers Future Moynihan Station West – Hub on the NEC “Hot and Cold” Index of the Northeast: U. Penn 2004

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